Thermometer support



Nov. 15, 1966 E. P. DOBRIN THERMOMETER SUPPORT Filed Feb. 25. 1965 United States Patent Oflfice 3,285,558 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 3,285,558 THERMOMETER SUPPORT Edward P. Dobrin, Massapequa Park, N.Y., assignor to Weksler Instruments Corp, Freeport, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 435,180 6 Claims. (Cl. 248-309) The present invention is directed to instruments, and more particularly thermometers and the like, and to means for shading and protecting the instrument from accidental blows which may damage it.

In thermometers and similar instruments there is provided an enlongated body on which the thermometer or gage is mounted. Usually there are glass elements of a delicate nature which are liable to be damaged by handling or in use. It is important to adequately and as fully as possible to so construct the instrument case or body so as to minimize the danger of breakage of glass or other parts which are of a fragile nature,

In order to obtain an accurate reading on an outdoor thermometer, it is necessary to shield the bulb from sun, wind, rain, snow, etc. as much as possible. Such shielding is, of course, unnecessary for indoor use.

Accordingly, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide an instrument body on which the instrument is to be mounted which is simple in construction and olfers good protection.

It is also among the objects of the invention to provide a hood or canopy as an adjunct to said body which is removable therefrom, which overlies the face of the body, which is readily attached to and firmly held on the body and which can be packed for storage or shipment in a minimum of space.

It is further among the objects of this invention to provide a removable shield against sun, wind, rain, snow and the like which can be removed if the thermometer is for indoor use.

In practicing the invention there is provided a body of elongated shape having a substantially flat back on the front of which is means for mounting a thermometer or the like. On the sides of the body are forwardly projecting flanges which extend a suflicient distance to enclose the instrument. Near the top of the body is a transverse slot or an opening for the reception of a hood. The latter has a rearwardly projecting tongue fitting into the slot and a forwardly and downwardly projecting cover or canopy which overlies the upper part of the instrument without interfering with observation of the dat thereon and shields the bulb from the elements. To detachably mount the hood on the body, inside of the top of the hood there is provided a depending hook member and there is a cooperating latch formed on the body so that the hood may be snapped onto the body by simple manipulation. A longitudinal rib, centrally of the front face of the back serves as a support for the instrument and as reinforcing means for the body.

The invention is more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof, in which like reference characters indicate like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the structure of the present invention with the hood assembled on the body;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational View thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the upper part of the body with the hood removed therefrom;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational View of the hood showing the hook member and reinforcing ribs;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the upper part of the assembly and taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a transverse cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

The body consists of a flat back 1 having lateral flanges 2 and 3, and a bottom flange 4 which is a continuation of flanges 2 and 3. Top flange 5 connects the upper ends of flanges 2 and 3. Extensions 6 and 7 having keyhole slots 8 and 9 respectively serve as means for mounting the body on a wall. Integral bars 10 and 11 extend forwardly of back 1 and vertical central support 12 joins said bars, the front faces of said bars and support being in the same plane. Holes 13 and foot 14 are means for anchoring a thermometer on the support and within the confines of the flanges.

Across the upper end of the body and integral with flanges 2 and 3 is latch holder 15 having a front 16 and a rear latch bar or keeper 17. A slot 18 allows access of the hood into protective position.

The hood is a separate element consisting of a transverse rearwardly extending top 19 having a shoulder 20 adapted to abut against the front of flange 5 and to be held thereon. A vizor or canopy 21 extends downwardly and outwardly from top 19 to a point 22 covering latch front 16. Under top 19 is transverse depending latch 23 having hook 24 adapted to snap onto keeper 17. A pair of spaced projections 25 extending rearwardly from viz-or 21 fit against front 16, holding the hood firmly against angle 26. To insert the hood onto the body, it is only necessary to grasp the hood and push top 19 towards the right in FIG. 5 thru slot 18 at a slight upward angle until latch 23 has its hook 24 engaged behind keeper 17, and then moving the hood down into the position shown. It is firmly in place and is supported against lateral or vertical movements.

While only one embodiment of this invention has been particularly described it is, nevertheless, to be broadly construed and to be limited only by the character of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A support for instruments comprising a body having a flat, elongated vertical back, forwardly projecting lateral flanges thereon, a transverse slot at the top of said body, a longitudinal integral central support on said body for holding an instrument, a substantially rigid vizor having a transverse top and an integral substantially rigid depending latch member, said top fitting into said slot, a complementary latch member at the top of said body below said slot for reception of said latch member.

2. A support according to claim 1 characterized in that said central support is thicker than said back to reinforce said back.

3. A support according to claim 1 characterized in that the depending latch member is a hook and the complementary member is a keeper.

4. A support according to claim 1 characterized in that the top of said vizor has a shoulder fitting onto the top of said body.

5. A support according to claim 1 characterized in that the vizor has rearwardly extending projections fitting against the front of said complementary latch member.

6. A support according to claim 1 characterized in that said vizor extends below the latch members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,230,035 6/ 1917 Royson 73-340 2,666,328 1/1954 Beck 73374 FOREIGN PATENTS 992,439 4/ 1964 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. I. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SUPPORT FOR INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A FLAT, ELONGATED VERTICAL BACK, FORWARDLY PROJECTING LATERAL FLANGES THEREON, A TRANSVERSE SLOT AT THE TOP OF SAID BODY, A LONGITUDINAL INTEGRAL CENTRAL SUPPORT ON SAID BODY FOR HOLDING AN INSTRUMENT, A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID VIZOR HAVING A TRANSVERSE TOP AND AN INTEGRAL SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID DEPENDING LATCH MEMBER, SAID TOP FITTING INTO SAID SLOT, A COMPLEMENTARY LATCH MEMBER AT THE TOP OF SAID BODY BELOW SAID SLOT FOR RECEPTION OF SAID LATCH MEMBER. 